ZBrushCentral

ZProject beyond basic

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Ok, I’m starting to feel pretty comfortable in ZBrush 3.1 now, but some tools seem to behave oddly at times and I’m wondering if anyone can help me figure out more about projection, especially the Zproject brush as used to project contours from one subtool to another.

In the past, I know I’ve used zproject to both raise one subtool’s surface to another subtool’s surface above it and also used it to press a subtool’s surface down upon another subtool’s surface below it, but now it only seems to work in the raise direction. There have also been times in the past when I found that it would not work at all.

I know that this must be another case of complex software settings, some button left unpressed has put the tool into a mode where what I’m trying to do with it just won’t work, and I don’t know where to look. I want to fix my problem, but I also want an overall understanding of this so I can troubleshoot it for myself. Where would you suggest I look?

What I’m trying to do with the zproject brush, is morph an existing head model so that it conforms to another existing head model. Seems pretty straightforward, but because of some features like the close spacing of the lines at the corner of the mouth, the nostrils and ears overlapping the sides of the head it won’t just project automatically.

Also, has anyone else noticed that when you have the zproject brush and switch to transpose move, to move a whole subtool, that it behaves very oddly?

#2

The Zproject brush is a weird animal.For colors it’s cool but for projecting topologies it requires a mastery of angles that I don’t hold actually.
I would recommend experimenting with the Project All button
in the subtool subpalette.
Just be sure none of your projected model’s edges are facing nothingness.
(ex:neck border,eye holes borders ect… must be facing toward some surface.)
:slight_smile:

#3

Thank you Christian.

This is helping too:
http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=46544

Hottest tip: before using zproject make sure the transpose line is deactivated by going into transpose and alt clicking on the mesh.

I see that zproject has some kind of perhaps unhealthy attachment to the transpose line.

#4

Well, not exactly (though you are right that it has to be disabled for direct transfer). The action line is part of its function. It enables you to pick detail - sculpting or color - from different areas. So, for example, you can put a reference photo in the background and then clone from that directly onto your mesh, as here:
http://www.zbrush.info/docs/index.php/Tutorial:ZProject_Texturing

#5

Yes, thanks.

I was kind of making a joke about my thoughts that the action line seems like a slightly awkward thing to use with the project brush. Since its primary function seems to be transposing, you might expect users to forget about its influence on projecting from one subtool to another. And the connection goes the other way too. Zproject, and I think some other brushes also, affect transpose in some way and for reasons I still haven’t figured out.

But anyway I did find the answers I was looking for. There were three obscure checkbox type issues to look out for:

Deactivate Transpose

Deactivate Perspective

and Deactivate symmetry.

And a lot of finesse.

I got decent results projecting one complete edge loop face onto another after a couple of tries. The biggest problems were keeping the center line centered, the ears and the insides of the mouth and nostrils. After a few more tries I expect I’ll have the process down pat.

Marvelous software this ZBrush.